Date of Conferral

7-23-2025

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Health Education and Promotion

Advisor

Jamuir Robinson

Abstract

The COVID-19 lockdown impacted chronic diseases care globally, but there is limited research on how individuals in rural Nigerian communities managed diabetes during this period. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of self-management with diabetes during the COVID-19 lockdown among adults in Esan Northeast. The socioecological model (SEM) served as the guiding conceptual framework, allowing for the exploration of the impact of individual, interpersonal, community, and institutional factors on self-care behaviors. The research explored how cultural, social and economic factors impacted how adults with diabetes in Esan Northeast managed their condition during the COVID-19 lockdown. Semi-structured interviews via Microsoft Teams were conducted with 10 diabetic patients aged 55–70. The data were analyzed using descriptive coding and directed content analysis, guided by predetermined categories aligned with SEM. Four themes emerged: (a) absence of cultural and institutional support, (b) social isolation and limited support, (c) economic barriers to diabetes care and (d) self-reliance in diabetes management. Results indicate that during the lockdown, participants faced cultural, social, and economic barriers and exhibited self-reliance to manage their diabetes. The findings were used to develop four field-based products: a policy brief memo, an executive summary, a program plan framework and a diabetes information sheet. The results from this study may contribute to positive social change by informing the development of a sustainable, community-based approaches to chronic disease management and preparedness in emergencies in rural communities with limited resources.

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